Point of interest
Grand-Place
in Brussels, Belgium
The UNESCO World Heritage main square, ringed by ornate guildhalls and a Gothic town hall, is rated one of the most beautiful in Europe.
Where it is
The central main square in the heart of Brussels' historic core (the Pentagon), a few minutes' walk from the Bourse and the Rue du Marché au Charbon.
Address: Grand Place, 1000 Brussels
What it is
The unbroken ring of gilded guildhalls and the lacy Town Hall tower make it one of Europe's most beautiful squares. By day you stroll among chocolate shops and cafés; by night the floodlighting sets the mood, and every two years it hosts the vast Flower Carpet.
History
The square grew from the 11th century into the city's market and civic centre, anchored by the Gothic Town Hall (1402-1455). In 1695 a bombardment by French troops destroyed nearly the whole square, after which the guilds rapidly rebuilt their houses in coordinated Baroque style. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.